MONFERRATO
Denominazione di Origine Controllata
GRAPE VARIETY
Chardonnay
TASTING NOTES
Vicara's Sarnì Monferrato Bianco DOC is a significant and structured white wine, crafted from carefully selected Chardonnay grapes, designed for those seeking a Monferrato wine with bold personality and remarkable aromatic complexity. Sarnì emerges from sun-exposed, well-ventilated hillside vineyards in the Monferrato, where Vicara has long championed international varieties through a distinctly Piedmontese lens. The estate's mixed sandy-clay soils allow Chardonnay to achieve full ripeness, yielding depth, structure, and that hallmark sapidity typical of Monferrato whites. In the local dialect, "Sarnì" means "chosen" or "selected," befitting its status as the cellar's flagship white, produced in limited quantities—an oak-aged Chardonnay intended for contemplation or pairing with substantial dishes, more akin to a great ageing white than an everyday pour. The 2025 vintage proved exceptionally favourable for Chardonnay in Monferrato, with pristine grapes, steady maturation, and well-balanced acidity, resulting in an even more complex and refined Sarnì. Sarnì displays an intense, bright straw-yellow with golden reflections, a vivid sign of its extended wood maturation and bottle evolution. The bouquet is broad and enveloping, unveiling smoky notes, dried fruit (hazelnut, almond), wilted white flowers, hints of ripe fruit, and subtle vanilla and sweet wood nuances, all seamlessly integrated. On the palate, it is full-bodied, warm, and well-structured, with good freshness and a marked creamy texture; the sip is long and layered, with toasted and dried-fruit return notes, rendering it ideal for rich dishes, flavourful fish, white meats, and matured cheeses. Vicara (Visconti-Cassinis-Ravizza) stands as a benchmark in Monferrato, renowned above all for Grignolino and territorial wines, yet in recent years it has curated a select "collection" of characterful whites like Sarnì and Ariales. Sarnì's limited production often features in special selections or gift sets, underscoring its role as the cantina's pinnacle Chardonnay.